King of the road: David Millar gets back in the saddle with new cycling apparel brand

King of the road: David Millar gets back in the saddle with new cycling apparel brand

David Millar launches new cycling apparel called Chpt III. Pictured here, the ’1.81’ micro-fibre base layer with hydrophilic outer layer and colourful graphic design, and the ’1.61’ cycling jersey, inspired by the US Air Force’s ’MAI’ bomber jacket

During his professional career, the French cycling press nicknamed David Millar ‘Le Dandy’, acknowledging not only the Scottish rider’s distinctively aggressive souplesse in the saddle, but also his sartorial elegance off the bike. Now retired from professional cycling, Millar’s thing for clothing lives on with the debut collection of the Chpt III (representing the third chapter in Millar’s cycling career) apparel brand that he has launched in collaboration with Italian manufacturer Castelli.

Rendered in a palette of colours inspired by a Ben Nicholson painting, tops and shorts are made of gossamer-thin, super-light, high-performance Lycra that is, maintains Millar, actually better quality than than stuff the pros use on the circuit. ‘Its weave and unique construction means it can’t be printed with sponsors logos, but having spent my career dressed as a human billboard, this is now of no concern to me.’

Conceived by Millar and designer Richard Pearce (also a keen cyclist) with some help from British tailor Timothy Everest, Chpt III’s minimally modernist garments tip a chapeau as much to Savile Row as to the Alpine cols.

The short-sleeved jersey has a slanted, front ticket pocket, the bib shorts feature robust-looking braces, and the gorgeous, short-sleeved ‘Rocka’ jacket (green with an orange lining, MA1 bomber-style) can be secured at the neck by a storm fastener just like you’d find on a classic trench coat. ‘When it comes to being on my bike, I like to feel like a rocker, not a mod,’ says Millar.

As originally featured in the October 2015 issue of Wallpaper* (W*199)

Wallpaper* Newsletter

Share your email to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world

Please keep me up to date with special offers and news from Wallpaper and other brands within the TI Media. UK Group.

Please keep me up to date with special offers and news just by email from carefully selected companies. Your personal details will not be shared with those companies - we send the emails and you can unsubscribe at any time.